Can tester valve mechanism



Sept. 20, 1949'.

Filed Aug. 1, 1947 F/GJ IN VEN TOR.

EaAaxa BY ATTOQNEXE E. LAXO 2,482,677

patented Sept. 2c, 1949 cAN TESTER VALVE MECHANISM 1 Laxo, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Atlas Imperial Diesel Engine 00., Oakland, Calif, a corporation of Delaware Application August 1, 1917, Serial No. 765,484

Claims. (01; 73-40) 1 Q The present invention relates to automatic can testers, being particularly directed to the tester valve mechanism for controlling the passage of air under pressure to and from the cans during the testing operation.

An object of the present invention is to Provide a can tester valve mechanism for controlling the flow of compressed air successively to and from cans mounted on the tester carrier wheel in which the valve mechanism embodies a stationary member in slidable sealing engagement with a member rotating with the wheel, and in which the sealing engagement between such members is maintained without subjecting the stationary member to the rotational force of the wheel.

. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved can tester valve mechanism for controlling the flow of compressed air successfully to and from cans mounted on the tester wheel, which is readily adjustable to determine the sealing force between the contacting faces of a stationary valve member anda valve member connected to the rotatable tester wheel.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: v

Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation and sectional view of a can tester.

. Fig. 2 is a transverse view of part of the tester valve mechanism, a portion being shown in section to illustrate the port arrangement.

The valve mechanism A disclosed in the drawings determines the passage of compressedair to cans mounted upon a can carrier wheel Ill. Ingeneral, the testing operation includes the delivery of cans from an intake or feed chute H to the wheel, clamping of such cans in circumferentially arranged pockets adjacent the periphery of the wheel, the introduction of compressed air into such cans, and the determination of the fact of air leakage, if any, from the cans by a detecting mechanism l2, which effects selective discharge of the cans into a good can chute I3 2 tionfor Can tester pocket assembly, Serial No. 765,483, filed August 1, 1947.

The can carrier wheel [0 is rotatably mounted upon a stationary shaft I5 clamped within and extending between spaced vertical supports l6 of the tester frame. Friction between the wheel and shaft may be minimized by an intervening bushing l'l disposed within the hub l8 of the wheel and mounted upon the shaft. The wheel has a web portion l9 extending transversely from its hub, and a series of circumferentially arranged pockets 20 into which the cans are delivered successively from the intake or feed chute H- as the wheel rotates, and in which they are clamped in leakproof relation, as set forth in my aforesaid application.

A rotating valve member or disk 2| is mounted adjacent the web IQ of the wheel and is rigidly secured thereto in any suitable manner, as bolts 22. This valve member 2| has a plurality of uniformly spaced, circumferentially arranged radial L-shaped air passages or ducts 23 Whose longitudinal foot portions 24 open outwardly of the flat transverse valve member face 25. There is an air passage 23 for each can pocket 20 on the Wheel, and .such air passages are spaced the same number of degrees apart around the circumference of the wheel as the pockets. In view of space limitations, it is preferred that the foot portions 24 of the air passages be alternately arranged on two different concentric circles 24a, 24b, as-shown in Fig. 2.

, Air is conducted successively to each air passage through a single air inlet duct 26 extending radially inwardly from the periphery of a stationary valve member 21 mounted upon the hub I8 of the carrier wheel l0, and having an inner flat transverse face 28 in snug sealing engagement with the companion face 25 on the rotatable valve member 2|. The inner portion 29 of this air duct extends longitudinally and opens out- Wardly of the transverse face 28, merging into a depending radial groove 30 extending across both concentric circles 24a, Mo, on the rotating valve member, in order to successively feed air through the passages 23- during rotation of the can carrier wheel [0. Arranged in the stationary valve member almost a complete circle from the inlet duct is a detector air duct 3| similar to the inlet air duct 26. For example, such detector duct may be disposed approximately 330 degrees from the intake-duct.

Air is supplied to a suitable compressed air tank by a compressor (both not shown) and flows sage 23 successively moves from with the inlet duct 25 and traps the air in the particular can connected to passage.

the can carrier wheel has rotated nan-i the 'ii'os'ition of air entry almost one complete revolution (330 degrees in the above example)", eaten air passage 23 then communicates with the detector air duct 3|, communicating through a line 34 with a detector mechanism l2 having the function of determining the dischargeof the can into the good can chute E3 or poor can chute l4 foll'dt'ng' its release or u'nclamping from the can carrierwheel i8 immediately after the associated air passage 23 has passed the detector air duct 31. This action takes place successively on each can as the wheel rotates, carrying the rotatable valve member 2| along the stationary valve mem- Berri.

The stati nary valve member 2! is prevented from rotating by an 35 thereon engageable in a longitudinally"extending key-way or groove 36 in a side frame member 16 of the tester mechanism. The pin thus prevents rotation of the stationaryvalve member, but permits its longi tudinal movement, the pin 3 5 and groove 36, in effect, providing a slid able keyed or spline conne'ctien between the stationary valve member and the te ter frame.

The stationary member 21 is urged longitudinally against the rotating valve member 2! to hold their c'oen'g'aging flat faces 23, 25, snug sealing, air-ti ht relationship by a plurality of cireu r'ri-feren-tially arranged compressed springs each or which is received within a pocket 38 a spring ring or retainer 39, andalso within aiiopposed pocket er socket 453' the stationary valve member 21. The springs are held under com ression by a thrust c'olla-r 4'1 threaded upon a caper sleeve M's'ecured to the end of the car rier wheel hub [3 by cap "screws 5-3" or the like. The inner end of the collar "M is secured to an outer tearing race as engaging a series of retatable thrust bearing balls 4' 5 engaging a cornpanion race 613 secured to the spring re}; tainer ring 39. It is e'vid that the thrust Of the springs" an is transmitted in one direction tothe thrust comer-m, sleeve ez-and hub I 8 or the carrier Wheel in through theer'it-i-rtietion thrust bearing t'd, 15, 36. It is also to be noted that a bushing 5': or other suitable radial type of bearing is positioned between 'thehub 8 of the car-- rie' wheel ari'ci'the hub 4815f the stationary Valve member", in order to prev ""t the rotation of the carrier wheel m from tate thestationary' valve member '21.

By suitably turning the thrust collar 4'? on the sleeve AZs'ecuredto the wheel hub "ltgas by means of a rod positioned within a radial socket 49 in the collar, the compression in the springs--31 may be adjusted to the desiredvalue to insure proper slidable sealing contact between the fiat faces 28, 25 of the stationary and rotatable valve members 21, 2 i. lhe axial" movement oi the statieearymmter '21, under the impetus 'of the ally tending toro springs, is permitted, as aforementioned, by reason of its splined connection 35, 36 with the tester frame [6.

The rotation of the carrier wheel I0 does not tend to rotate the stationary valve member 2'! in view of the radial anti-friction bearing 41 between the hub l8 of the carrier wheel and the stationary member, and also" because of the axial thrust bearing 44, 45, 46 located between the spring retainer 39 and the thrust collar 41 threaded on the hub cap 42. Thus, the rotatable position of the "statiefiary valve member with respect to the rotatable valve member is maintained, without tendency toward altering the timed relationbetween the ducts 26, 3| and 23. The springs .31 maintained the lapped coengaging faces 28, 25 of-the valve members in snug sealing engagement to prevent inadvertent leakage of air from the air passages, such engagement being varied readilythrough threadedly adjusting the thrust collar 5| "on the hubea t2, which adjustin m0- ti'on is transmitted through the thrust bearing e f, 'and retair'ier- 39 to the springs 31.

It is accordingly apparent that a cantester 1 valve mechanism has been provided for efiieiezitly effectivelydetermining the passage of air to and from the cans clamped upon a tester wheel, in which the sealing engagement between the val've' members is maintained without subjecting the'st'ationary member to the rotational force of thewheel, and in which the force of sealing engagement may be readily varied.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes m be made in its construction by those skilled n the art "ithout de arting from the spirit of the invention as defined in trieeitpeneea claims;

Having thus described my invention, what I ciaihi and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'1'. A can tester, including a wheelfor carrying cans from an intake chute to a discharge-chute, a stationary Valve member mounted on said wheel (1 having air passages opening through a sea mg face kin said member, a valve device rotatable with said wheel adjacent said i'neinber and having air passages Opening through asealifig' face on said device which are communicable with said stationary member passages as said Wheel retat'es to determhithe suppi and condiltidri er air *ceiis'elempeu' leakiiiroof 'reiatibn on said wheel, a thrust member secured to said wheel, sprin means fer urging' said stationary reward said'iiawdeilie 'ifi ofde'r to lidl'd said faces 'sli'dable sealing? engagement with each other, and a thrust bearing between said thrust member and means for preventin the rotation of said wheel from being imparted to saidstationary member,

2. A; can testeiy including a Wheel-tor carrying cans in m anintake chute to a discharge chute, I valv member mountedon said w ee and having air passages opening through itaims; fa e on saic'memb r; a valve device'rowheel adjacent said member r passe" es opening "through a seal ee Vhich are communicate 1 nary rfib'er' passages mg: race g with said st as's id whee-irritates to determine the suppiy'aad ennui:

" tion of in "cans clamped in le'aleproof relation 5 toward said valve device in order to hold said faces in slidable sealing engagement with each other.

3. A can tester, including a wheel for carryin cans from an intake chute to a discharge chute, said Wheel having a hub, a stationary valve mem- :ber mounted on said hub and having air passages opening through a sealing face on said member, a bearing between said member and hub, a valve device rotatable with said wheel adjacent said member and having air passages opening through a sealing face on said device which are communicable with said stationary member passages as said wheel rotates to determine the supply and condition of air in cans clamped in leakproof relation on said wheel, a thrust member secured to said hub, a thrust bearing en aging said thrust member, a retainer engaging said thrust bearing, and springs located between and bearing against said retainer and stationary member for urging said stationary member toward said valve device in order to hold said faces in slidable sealing engagement with each other.

4. A can tester as defined in claim 3, wherein said thrust member is threadedl secured to said hub to allow its adjustment thereon for the purpose of varying the force exerted by said springs.

5. A can tester, including a frame, a shaft secured to said frame, a wheel rotatable on said shaft for carrying cans from an intake chute to a discharge chute, said wheel having a hub, a stationary valve member mounted on said hub and splined to said frame and having air passages opening through a sealing face on said member, a bearing between said member and hub, a valve device rotatable with said wheel adjacent said member and having air passages opening through a sealing face on said device which are communicable with said stationary member passages as said wheel rotates to determine the supply and condition of air in cans clamped in leakproof relation on said wheel, a cap secured to said hub, a thrust member threaded on said cap, a thrust bearing engaging said thrust member, a retainer engaging said thrust bearing, and springs located between and bearing against said retainer and stationary member for urging said stationary member toward said valve device in order to hold said faces in slidable sealing engagement with each other.

ED LAXO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,152,449 Swangren Sept. 7, 1915 2,020,535 Cameron Nov. 12, 1935 2,101,129 Cameron Dec. '7, 1937 

